(FREE) Union Defeats Rival Broken Arrow
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UNION 38, Broken Arrow 28
Though the game got a little close in the third quarter, Union never trailed against rival Broken Arrow. Eventually turnovers and penalties were too much for Broken Arrow to overcome and Union walked away with a 10-point win and a 2-0 record on the season.
Turning Point
With 51 seconds left in the third quarter, Broken Arrow quarterback Griffin Stieber Griffin Stieber 6'4" | 225 lbs | QB Broken Arrow | 2022 State OK through a gorgeous pass to the back corner of the end zone and tight end Joshua Willhite rose up and snagged it. This brought the score to 24-21. It was the closest that the visiting Tigers would get.
Union began a drive from their own 20 with less than a minute to go in the third. Union quarterback Grayson Tempest threw an interception to Broken Arrow linebacker Dietrich Moore Dietrich Moore 6'0" | 210 lbs | LB Broken Arrow | 2023 State OK – really Tempest’s lone mistake in a very well played game. With Broken Arrow beginning the offensive possession from the Union 23, the Tigers still had a lot of work to do if they were to take their first lead of the game.
On 3rd and 16, it seemed that Broken Arrow had caught the Union defense off guard by sending every receiver long and tossing a screen to the left. Instead of it turning into a huge gain for the Tigers – as it definitely looked like it would – Union defensive tackle RJ Wilson RJ Wilson 6'3" | 230 lbs | DL Union | 2022 State OK burst through the wall of blockers and snagged the interception. Tempest followed up his only interception of the game by leading his squad on 65-yard drive, going 3-3 passing and extending the lead back to 10-points.
An interception on the first play of the ensuing drive by Union cornerback Makhai Belt Makhai Belt 5'10" | WR Union | 2022 State OK insured that any thoughts of a comeback on behalf of the Tigers were put to rest. It took Union three plays to see running back Rovaughn Banks Rovaughn Banks 5'10" | 200 lbs | ATH Union | 2022 State OK score his third TD of the game and set Union at their final score of 38. Broken Arrow would score once more, but after a failed onside kick Union were left to take a knee and finish out the clock.
Player of the Game
Rovaughn Banks
Rovaughn
Banks
5'10" | 200 lbs | ATH
Union | 2022
State
OK
| Running Back | Union | 2022
Rovaughn saved the best for last by scoring two of his three touchdowns in the fourth quarter. Banks is a team captain and definitely lead his team by example on Friday night. Banks gained a very workmanlike 197 yards on 31 carries.
Banks is a 5’11″, 194 lb. back with very fluid moves who does a good job of taking advantage of his height – or lack thereof. Behind Union’s absolutely massive line, Banks could be seen biding his time while ducking behind the big men. When a gap opened up, Rovaughn hit it with an explosiveness unmatched on the field at Union for either team. He is great at making people miss and left Broken Arrow players strewn all over the field, slapping the ground in frustration as he blew by them for big yards.
Quotable
“He’s a guy that plays extremely tough. You don’t ever have to worry about his grit. No quarterback wants to go through adversity but, we knew that there’d be adversity sometime and he’s the guy I want leading our team when that happens.” – Union Head Coach Kirk Fridrich on quarterback Grayson Tempest following up his lone interception with a touchdown drive.